John b



J. B. BOWBBB, J. ALPUTTB'B B G. B. BABNBLL.

' BAIL BOND. APPLIGATIN FILED JUNEZO, 1918.

Patented Nov. 24, 19ML` Attorneys Unir-En PATENTOFFICE.

JOHN n.. Bownns, JoHN A. Pofrfrnn, AND comu. B. DARNELL, or NEwnoae,

inssoUaI.

naILfBoND.

T all whom t ma concern: l, i

Be it known t at we, JoH'nR. BOWERS,

Jon-NA A. Poma, and Comi. B'. DARN'nLn,

citizens of the United States, residing at Newburg, in the county ofPhelps, State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful.

and lin the details of construction `hereinater described and claimed,it being under-l ment of the invention herein disclosed can be madewithin the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spiritlof the invention.

The invention has been illustrated in its preferred embodiment in theaccompanying drawing, wherein Figure l is a side elevation of theimproved joint or chair. Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse section taken on the line3 3 of Fig. 2.

In carrying out the invention, reference being had in detail to thedrawing, there is provided a rail chair embodying a base or bottom 1having the integral angle iron sides or fish plates 2, in order that thechair may be adapted to receive the meeting ends of the rails with thesh plates `2 engaging under the treads or balls of the rails. The baseiianges of the rail ends are adapted to seat upon the base or bottoni ofthe rail chair under the fish plates-2, as will be apparent.

stood that changes in the precise embodi-l In order t'o clamp the iishplates tightly' against the rail ends when the pressure is spe-amavano:tener; 11mm. .Patented Nov, 24, 1914 Application ed June 0, 1918. SerialNo. 774,889.

. the' central portion of the base or bottom i will be depressed, andconsequently, the fisl plates `will be firmly clam ed against th railends to hold them tiglitly in positie; while the train is traversing therail end: Ordinarily, the ish plates 2 will be expand edl slightly, torelieve the chair, as well a the rail ends, of .any undue strain, excepwhen the rail ends are weighted down by locomotive-or train.

In order-to spike or secure the 1chair t the ties, the lower flan es 5of the fishplate are provided with spte openings 6, whic] aline withsimilar openings 7 in the base o bottoms-1 of the chair.` The s ikes 8ar adapted to be .driven through e openin 6 and 7 into the underlyingtie or ties 9, t spike openings at-the respective sides bein,I instaggered relation with respect to on another, and the base flanges ofthe rails be ing. provided with clon ated openings 1 through which thespies ass, thereb; maintaining the rail ends wit in the chai] butpermitting them to expand and contrae due to atmospheric conditions. Therai chair is thus effectively spiked to the tief together with the railends.

In order to electrically connect the rai ends for purpose of blocksignaling, or fo purpose 'of forming the leg of an electrica circuit7the upright flanges of the fish plate are provided with thecomplementary lon itudinal slots or openings 11 intermedia-t t cir ends,and adjoining the meeting end of the rails. A coiled wire or elasticraibond 12 is disposed or housed within one o the slots or' openings 11 andhas its ends 1 engaged through apertures provided in th webs of the railends intermediate the end of the slots 11, and bent within the othe slot11. The bond is thus housed within th rail clir, and may be readily andinex pensively applied to the rails to provide a: eiiicient electricalconnection or bond fo the rails. The ends of the rail bond bein,`engaged through the webs of the rail a speciiied also provide animportant functior in that, should the rails separate excessively theends of the bond will be sheared by th ends of the slots, so as tobreak, or open th electrical circuit, thus interrupting the bloc signalsystem to indicate danger, In thi manner, accidents may be avoided, duet the excessive separation of the rails, whicl otherwise could not beguarded against. After the defect is remedied= a new bond ma y he easilyapplied to reestablish the electrical circuit. eliminates the use ofbolts or other securing members for clamping the ish plates to therails, which is a desirable feature, in that, it not only reduces thecost of the joint, but permits the rails to be readily. attached orconnected, especially when repairs are necessary. The present rail jointor chair may be employed for use in steam railroads, and inter-urban andcity street car' lines, the ordinary rail bonds being replaced by therail bonds as above described. The present rail bond cannot be tornloose or injured by any obstacle that may be dragged or carried by thelocomotive 'or cars, the rail bond being effectively housed within thechair.

Other advantages ofl the present device will be apparent tothose versedin the art, it being noted that the objects aimed at have been carriedoutsatisfactorily, and that the present device provides a desirable onefor the purposes for which' it is designed. The lower flange of the fishplates may be rovided with longitudinal grooves 14 a ong The joint. asthus provided the edges of the base to permitthe sh plates to yieldrelative to the baseL if necessary.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is Incombination, a rail chair having sides and the sides havingcomplementary slots, rails'liaving their ends received by the chairbetween the sides thereof, the rail Webs having apertures therethroughintermediate the ends of the said slots, and an elastic rail bond housedWithin one of said slots and having its terminal portions lengagedthrough the said apertures and bent within the other slot, the ends ofthe said slotsv being arranged to shear the terminal portions of thebond should the rails separate excessively.

In testimony that We cla-im the foregoing as our own, We have heretoafiixed our` signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN R. BOWERS. JOHN A. POTTER. ,CORAL B. DARNELL. Witnesses:

T. E. KILLEN, CEAS. Rrvsns.

